STORY OF PHILIPPINE BOXING PART XXX: MANNY MELCHOR, IBF WORLD MINIMUMWEIGHT CHAMPION
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 04 May 2020
Manny Melchor was born on March 14, 1969 at Mansalay, Mindoro Oriental. He lost his first three fights and drew the fourth in 1987.
He won his fifth fight over Obet Maamo by decision on April 20, 1988. During their rematch four months later, Melchor also won on points.
Then Melchor faced Eugene Flores three times drawing the first, and losing the second and third encounter by decision.
He triumphed over Ric Magramo, the future Philippine light flyweight champion that time, by decision.
He fought Macedonian-Australian Peter Mitrevski to a draw. Then in a rematch, he won over Mitrevski, who went down thrice, for a 5th round knockout.
Melchor lost to former two-division world champion Dodie Boy Peñalosa by 7th round technical decision. He won over former IBF world minimumweight champion Eric Chavez twice, the first by majority decision and the rematch by unanimous decision.
He also prevailed over world title challenger Pretty Boy Lucas by split decision on December 13, 1991 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
On September 6, 1992, he became a world champion by beating Thongchai Utaida a.k.a. Fahlan Lukmingkwan/Sakkreerin in his home turf in Samut Prakan, Thailand by split decision for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world minimumweight title.
The American judge Louis Race gave the decisive edge to Melchor 116-112 as the Filipino Alejandro Francisco also favored him 119-114 while Thai Niphon Larhula had his countryman ahead 115-114.
His IBF world title belt was wrested in his first defense when he lost to Anucha Phothong a.k.a. Ratanapol Sor Vorapin of Thailand in hostile city Bangkok on December 10, 1992.
It was a split decision loss, in similar fashion when he won three months before, as Thai judge Vichai Srichamras saw it 117-110 for his countryman, Filipino Pascual Ingusan had it 115-112 for Melchor. Indonesian Jacob Limahelu tallied the deciding score of 115-112 for the Thai.
After five wins, Melchor made another world title attempt but lost to Mexico's Ricardo Lopez by 11th round KO for the World Boxing Council minimumweight title on December 18, 1993 in Stateline, Nevada.
He faced another Mexican Osvaldo Guerrero for the WBC international minimumweight championship but lost by 7th round TKO in Mexico City on August 12, 1994.
Melchor battled with world title challenger Andy Tabanas to draw in the first bout and lost by 7th round technical decision in the rematch.
He secured seven straight wins over Rudy Idanio by UD, Jerry Pahayahay by UD, Ronnie Canete by UD, Mongolia's Shinny Bayaar by UD and Ernesto Rubillar thrice by 7th round TD, MD and UD for the WBC international minimumweight title.
Melchor lost seven straight fights including a decision to Zarlit Rodrigo in losing his WBC international title, and to Mexico's Jose Antonio Aguirre by decision for the same belt by UD.
This compelled him to hang up his gloves after 79 bouts with 38 wins, 6 by KOs, 35 losses, 10 by KOs, and 6 draws per Boxrec.com.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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